author
William Strunk
1869–1946
Best remembered for the crisp rules of The Elements of Style, this longtime Cornell professor helped shape how generations of students learned to write clearly. His little handbook began as a classroom guide and went on to become one of the most influential style books in English.
1 Audiobook
The Elements of Style
by William Strunk
About the author
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 1, 1869, William Strunk Jr. studied at the University of Cincinnati and later earned his Ph.D. at Cornell University. He also spent time studying at the University of Paris before building his academic career.
Strunk taught English at Cornell for decades and became known as a devoted, memorable teacher. In 1918 he prepared The Elements of Style for use in his classes, aiming to give students a brief, practical guide to clear and careful writing.
That compact manual became his lasting legacy. After his death on September 26, 1946, it reached an even wider audience when his former student E. B. White revised and expanded it, turning "Strunk and White" into a familiar name for readers, writers, and editors.